The Misguided Ramblings of a Simple Chef

RC Cola and The Really Christmassy Cocktail

2011-11-06T20:34:00.002Z

For me, being a chef is all about trying out new recipes, tweaking tried and tested recipes to make them my own, and most of all enjoying the end result. Those lovely people at RC Cola have asked me to try out their new recipe, "The Ice Cream Float.... With A Festive Twist"

I wonder what Robert Green, The soda shop owner from Philadelphia who according to legend created the first Cola float back in 1874 would make of me tinkering with his recipe in a family home in Lincolnshire over 130 years later?

The Cola Float is a great treat for the kids and grown ups alike all year round, but the warm fragrant cinnamon really makes this one taste quite Christmassy. I opted for the Virgin RC^® Really Christmassy Cocktail as this one was for the children. (More about the grown up version later on!)

First things first, the ingredients (Thanks for the Cola guys BTW)- I was thrilled to actually hold a can of the iconic Cola that until now I'd only ever seen in "The Green Mile" with Tom Hanks and also in the original 1963 version of "The Nutty Professor" film with Jerry Lewis.

Virgin RC^® Really Christmassy Cocktail

Ingredients:

Pinch ground cinnamon

150 mls RC Cola

2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Ice:

Cubed

Garnish:

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cherries

Method:

Fill the tall glass with ice and add all the ingredients apart from the ice cream putting the RC Cola in last. Add the ice cream scoops at the top and garnish with the cinnamon sticks and cherries.

Following the ingredient list above, and the simple method we made this very festive treat in around 30 seconds!

Achieving the same results with both Diet and Original RC Cola, and arming the children with a glass each (And a spoon!) they quickly devoured this Christmassy take on a classic drink with the following feedback....

Now just remember they are my children, aged 14, 11 and 7 - Not Gregg Wallace and John Torode!, the following verdicts were recorded:

#1 Loved it "It definitely tastes like Christmas" and "Can we have another?"

#2 Asked immediately "Can we put the tree up, It feels like Christmas" and virtually polished the glass off too!

and

#3 (Once he had realised actually eating a cinnamon stick was NOT required) polished it off and also asked when we can have them again!

Sleigh Bells Ring, Are you listening??....

All in all a fair result I'd say! Minimal effort for maximum results, and a treat I'd recommend you all to try out.

Now, hard work done, and time to relax I feel Mrs F and I may have to try the grown up version!! See below....

RC^® Really Christmassy Cocktail

(Please enjoy responsibly. Not suitable for persons under the age of 18)

Ingredients:

12.5mls Kahlua

37.5 mls cinnamon-infused vodka

150 mls RC Cola

2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Ice:

Cubed

Garnish:

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cherries

Method:

Infused the vodka with cinnamon sticks by leaving the cinnamon in the vodka for 4 days

Fill a tall glass with ice and add all the ingredients apart from the ice cream putting the RC Cola in last. Add the ice cream scoops at the top and garnish with the cinnamon sticks and cherries.

Now there is a a treat for Mum and Dad alike, I may even have to leave one out for Santa this Christmas Eve! Please try it out, leave your comments for others to see, or tweet me @TfgRobFletcher and let me know your thoughts!

RC Cola has been Launched in the UK by Cott Beverages Ltd. and available exclusively in Asda stores nationwide, just visit rccola.co.uk for your local stockist.

A Rant: Hard Work Never Killed Anybody / Or Can we ban X Factor........?

2011-09-25T16:14:00.000+01:00

Today is Sunday, a day of rest for some, well for my family and I for a start. I feel that I deserve this day of rest, throughout the week I am in work from around 0730 to at least 1700. Mrs F begins her working day around the same time, ending at 1630 before preparing the family dinner etc. A lot of our evenings and down time is willingly devoted to our 3 children, and administering a family home inhabited by all of the above.

Most of you reading this will relate to that, some will probably think that that is luxury compared to their own work-life patterns, others may be a few years away from this but are looking forward to it. Some of you my squirm in fear at all of that, but it is My Utopia.
Those fitting into none of the above categories are those I find myself ranting about on a now near daily basis. "The Wannabes"

Those who feel the country owes them a living, those that feel that they can conquer the world without having ever done an honest days work in their lives, those just like the ones we see on shows like "X Factor" who feel the need to parade themselves on our TV screens, and in certain red top newspapers in a bid to whore themselves to a media willing to pay for every dirty secret, the more sinister the better.
It disgusts me that this "Great" Britain condones and supports this new low. I mean, what concept of reality do some of these kids have? how can they possibly grow up to become valued and respected figures if they know not what it is to contribute to the working world? For every one with a natural talent (Whom I admire greatly), there are 10000 or more of these wannabes with no respect for their leaders, their peers or each other. They are so sadly disillusioned to the fact that they can actually behave how they do, snarl in the face of the rest of the rat race, demand thousands of pounds for achieving nothing and generally walk around with the nonchalance that we all love to hate; In fact I don't love to hate it, i really do HATE it!

It is not entirely the fault of the individual either. As I said before, this "Great" Britain seems to support and promote this pathetic example of setting many a young boy or girl up for a serious reality check cum fall. Ask the generation aged 6-16 now what they would like to be when older, and I guarantee that there will be more of them than when I was that age who seriously think they have a chance of becoming a multi millionaire star, or a WAG as they have seen it on the TV, been fed the false hope that you do not have to work for a living in this new world in which we live.

When I was a boy the delusions of grandeur extended to probably one in 20 with a serious talent for football or the like, some of which I know made it, but most of which landed with a bump but did actually settle in to full time paid employment. I believe the generation of today are being damaged by this false hope that shows like X Factor offer, and are being led into a world where they dont have to try hard, or listen, or be respectful to those in authority.

The phrase "Hard work never killed anybody" is often used by the generations before me, but I feel it needs a new airing.

Man up Great Britain, stop pretending it's OK to push your children into a world where they don't have to work to earn their living, into a world where they can support mummy and daddy when they become famous.
Support your children and encourage them to do well and get "A proper job" It's not easy, children can be challenging, children naturally will not see the benefits of working hard at school at such a young age, but as parents it's up to us to work hard, and not take the easy way out, not let them think they can be a pop star if they really don't have one iota of talent.

All you trash tabloids, grow a set!! Report on successes, not on which 17 year old is sha**ing which footballer and then PAYING her for her dirty secrets! Stop showing our younger generation it is OK or funny to behave like a spoilt diva who has never known what it is like to struggle for money. Be proud of a Great Britain that can be great, not of one that condones this superficial image of a youth that is destined for nothing other than a bumpy landing and ultimately failure.

I hear the phrase Broken Britain regularly, I'm not sure if this applies to the above, but if it does fall into that pigeon hole, I can begin to see why.

Ben Shaws Soft Drinks.... My Memories

2011-07-03T22:17:00.001+01:00

I have to admit..... Until recently I may have slightly forgotten that Ben Shaws Drinks existed. Shame on me! You wouldn't (Shouldn't) forget a mates birthday, so you can imagine my shock when I realised I nearly missed the 140th Birthday of this great soft drink producing company, whose products I have known, tasted and loved since the late seventies.
Roles reversed a little.... I did not get them a card or present, on the contrary; They sent ME a wonderful selection of my childhood favourite drinks, balloons and badges, and a great bag for the wife to take to the market!

As soon as I saw the classic design of the cans, it evoked memories of being a small boy, in the East End of Lincoln and one of my my very first memories of these classic flavours. I remember being able to choose a can of pop from the corner shop, before I went to Derby from Lincoln to visit some relations of my Grandparents. In the fridge were the usual suspects, who's brands and logos were plastered everywhere from motor racing circuits to parasols outside bars, but I always remember seeing the Ben Shaws logo, it's classically signed name and purely out of objectionable curiosity I had to have one of those. A Pepsi or Fanta would have been most kids choice, the safe option, but my chain of thought was "If that drink has been around all of these years, and can sit in the fridge next to brands that were more in your face; then it must be a good drink"! Quite a lot of thinking for a 7ish year old boy!!

Cloudy lemonade was the first flavour I ever tried. I remember asking what was different about it, and my Gran would just say that "That is what lemonade is meant to be like". Good enough for me!! Every time I see it It takes me right back to travelling in the back of my Grandad's Austin Maxi, sliding on the vinyl seats as it turned corners. No seatbelts in the back..... Yes, it actually happened!

Ben Shaws was not just about slidey journeys in Austin Maxis, or Austin Princesses for that matter, but for a lot of my pre double figure years were spent with my Dad, the then Labour leader for Lincoln City Council. With great power came great responsibility.... well, not really, but a lot of his time was spent in conflab or meetings with other socialists at Grafton House, the Lincoln Labour Club. I liked it there. He would be talking about how to oust Maggie Thatcher or something, I would be sat with other kids in a similar position in the back room, plied with crisps, video cartoons, and ....... Ben Shaws (From a bottle this time) on the slate! Me and my brother used to drink ice cold, from a Wellington glass typically Bitter Shandy! Was this my first taste of alcohol in a licensed premises??..... We used to feel so grown up, we could go to the little bar in the back room, ask for a glass of shandy and get the sweetest bitter shandy from Barbara or Christine behind the bar! I really don't think things like that could happen these days, H&S, PC etc blah blah blah!

I have vivid memories of Dandelion and Burdock too. I remember now the first time I tasted it. Nigel Lacey's birthday party, at a house off Monks Road, Lincoln. There were a selection of pop bottles on the table, and his dad asked me what I would like to drink. "We have Orange, Cola, Lemonade, and Dandelion & Burdock" I had NEVER heard of this before now! What if I said yes, but didn't like it...? I asked what it was like, I don't remember his response, but I ended up with a glass of it anyway! I remember the Ben Shaws label, so I knew it was "Safe".... If they sold it in Ray's corner shop, it must have been "Safe"! A child's innocence eh?? It was unlike any other drink I had ever tried. It was probably the first "Unique" taste I can remember. So sweet, slightly aniseed flavoured I thought (Hey, I could be a wine critic next lol!) And I remember when I got back home it was the first thing I told my parents about! This "New" drink, it was almost as if I was the first person to have ever tasted it! I felt quite special after that! I now know it is a classic, and millions had tasted (And probably felt the same as me) for years before. I was still confused that my parents knew what it was... I thought I WAS the first!!

When I was discussing Ben Shaws Birthday with my wife a few weeks ago, she thought she could remember them, but wasn't sure. That soon changed when the Party Pack arrived! BANG.... (It wasn't a parcel bomb!).. that was Mrs F taken straight back to the married quarter at RAF Leeming, where she lived with her family (My now In-Laws) whilst her dad was serving there in the RAF. Straight away after seeing the Cream Soda she recalled tales of the "Chip Van" that used to visit this remote RAF station, delivering fish, chips, crisps sweets and pop to the families living there every Friday tea time. She told me how they would get their tea, and she would get cream soda, her sister would get Bitter Shandy and they would take them back to the quarter for tea. That chip van was a treat for Mrs F and her family. With neither of her parents driving, and fast food outlets on RAF stations non existent in those days, it must have been quite something to get hot fish and chips, and the obligatory can of Cream Soda virtually "Delivered" to your door! There's a tip Ben Shaws... Branded mobile shops.... You can have that ;-)

I've loved tasting all of the products again. Vivid memories came flooding back, the minute that flavour hit my mouth, I was transported almost 30 years back, to an age of innocence and simplicity. I've loved helping out, I've remembered things that I never could have without tasting Ben Shaws drinks again.

So here's to "Innocence and Simplicity" and I'll raise a glass of Ben Shaws Bitter Shandy to you all!

Here's to the next 140 years!! http://www.benshawsdrinks.co.uk/

Why I LOVE Twitter.....

2011-02-12T15:57:00.000Z

I have been planning to write this piece for a while, and today it seemed more pertinent as I found out this morning it is my 2 year anniversary on Twitter!

In that time, I have sent 19523 tweets, which equates to an average of 26.7 tweets per day. That's roughly 351,000 words!! or about 936 sides of A4 Paper!!!!

This seems a lot, but from a mobile device, (I prefer Dabr from my mobile phone) it soon mounts up. I use the PC when at home, and tend to use the phone when the kids are busy on the computer, or if I am out.

Whether telling people what I am up to, @ replying to people, or posting a picture, they all add up, and I have had so much joy and use from it all! Amongst my memorable interactions on twitter, I have:

Live tweeted (the backing of the amazing Kevin Cecil or @kevcecil as I know him) a Christmas recipe, while Twitter folk (Including a few celebs!) cooked along with me. I'm aware that Sainsburys now provide this service, however I DID IT FIRST!! Grrrr damn you supermarket!!
Provided countless snippets of advice to fellow twitterers about cooking, ingredients and recipes etc.
Live tweeted info of road closures, traffic build up etc to the local radio station to be read out to the listeners.
Joined in conversations about a particular event at that time using. #HashTags. It's like being in the biggest pub in the world, socialising with like minded people about a common denominating factor. Now that sounds posh, but that factor could be that nights Coronation Street, A seasonal greeting, or an uprising in another country, such as we have just witnessed in Egypt. The beauty of it is, you have a virtually unlimited source of opinion at the click of a mouse. Where else could you get such diverse instant interaction?
I have received live football match updates through the medium of Twitter whilst in the middle of a shopping centre, and tweeted live football updates from my own PC for those in similar situations!
I have sought advice, from a dodgy washing machine to the best place to buy the latest iPod, and I have at my disposal Millions of people (The power of re-tweeting) to offer me their opinion on what I need!
I have been cheered up when I'm feeling down, laughed at the comical offerings of my "friends" and done the same for my "Followers"! when the situation dictated.
I have riled people with my opinion, had my ideas scoffed at, and most definitely done the same to others! But that's healthy idea sharing and two way conversation. It'd be no fun if we were all the same now would it?
I get short snippets of information, and links to the information I want to read. As a subscriber, or "Follower" I choose whether or not to read someone's updates, or "Tweets" and I can read them at my leisure. Whether that be updates from my chosen football teams, or BBC News, I can keep up to date at the click of a button.
I have linked other parts of my on line world to Twitter. By following me on twitter you can now see What I am Listening to (Last.FM) or on Spotify , you can see what I am Photographing to share with the world, you can also see my Project 365 Photographs as when I interact with these other sites, they interact with YOU via my Twitter feed!
I have chatted to a few celebrities on Twitter, exchanged opinions on subjects ranging from "The Apprentice" (Jonathan Ross) to performing at a local venue (Jason Manford) who's tweets have now sadly disappeared, but we'll not go in to that! I have had feedback on my live tweet recipe from Tony Gardner too! There are lots of people who just use Twitter to "Stalk" celebs, and that's fine, but it does not float my boat. In my opinion they rarely interact (Unless you are bombarding them with mentions until they do!) and are not good "Value for money" twitterers. I would much rather exchange opinion with like minded normal folk! In fact at the last time of checking, I think I only "Follow" around 3 celebrities from my list of 450 "Friends" on Twitter!

I have found so much use for Twitter I probably could not live without it! If that is an addiction, well I'll manage it! But until then, when I hit publish post at the bottom of this blog entry I will be adding to my ever growing list of online drivel that nobody ever reads..... ;-) .....Although secretly I REALLY hope they do, and I hope they like it too!

Project 365 Blog

2011-01-04T16:50:00.000Z

Starting on the 1st January 2011 I have embarked on a new blogging project. "Project 365" can be found HERE and is basically one entry per day for the whole of 2011. There are a lot of Project 365's out there, mine will only differ in the sense that some days I may not post a photo, but it may be a video, or even a sound clip - from that day.
It will kind of chart my life, through a multimedia snippet, over the next year, and I hope it offers some interest along the way.
If there is something you would like to see added, let me know!

Again - "TFGRobFletcher's Project 365"

Follow & Enjoy!

#FindBritain - A Modern Day Domesday Book.

2010-09-05T15:20:00.000+01:00

I have just embarked on a new and exciting journey to play my part in #FindBritain. Headed up by Glenn Le Santo or @lesanto if you are a twitterer, it is a modern day media rich chronicle of Britain as it stands today. My particular effort can be found at TFGRobFletcher's Posterous Blog and that is where I will be storing all of my pictures, movies, sound bites and other media to help historians of the future catalogue the way we were back in 2010.
Please read Glen Le Santo's description of what is #FindBritain as he has described it far better than I ever could.
Until then, do your bit. If it reflects Britain in 2010 then record it! Twitpics, AudioBoos, Ipadios, A Posterous Blog works really well for me, or you may want an online photo gallery. It's so easy to do, and if you own a mobile phone then you quite possibly have all the equipment you need!
That is what I'M doing. What are YOU going to do?

Have I lost my Football mojo?.......

2010-08-08T13:21:00.000+01:00

Throughout my life I have followed both Manchester United and Celtic fervently, getting to games when I can, wearing shirts, keeping updated on the game by whatever media necessary if I couldn't be there.
In younger years I'd collect the Panini stickers in an album, play in the park pretending to be one of my heroes - jumpers for goalposts and all that! Football was a huge part of my life. I could reel of stat after stat, remember new signings, keep ahead of the transfer gossip etc, I was really into it.
So here we are, the first weekend of the new season, the football league has kicked off, today is the Community Shield day, and we have an England friendly to look forward to mid week before the Premier League and SPL kick off. the trouble is - I just am not excited by it any more! I think England's performance in this year's world cup sort of cemented it. All of the hype and expectation, and to be dashed in such a disappointing manner sort of chuffs you off (For want of a more explicit phrase).
I look at the players I want to adore, for all of the three teams mentioned above, and I just can not be arsed anymore! As I mature in years and understand more about this life and this world we live in, I can not begin to support how they conduct their business, (Particularly United & England players) and how they lead their lives etc. I look at their more often than not less than average performances on the pitch, and then compare it to the way they lead their much publicised lives, and I can't begin to agree with that. Over £100,000 a week and I feel that they treat their fans with contempt and a loathing akin to a medieval king and a peasant.
Football is now so alien to its grass roots beginnings, even the price of watching my local team - Lincoln City is nearly £20.00. A family trip to watch my League two under par side will set me back £50.00 before pies n peas! What sort of working man can afford that every other week? The same trip to Old Trafford is nearer £150.00!!!
It's the anticipation and excitement that turns into anti climax and disappointment that I can not deal with anymore. Why do I need to build up my hopes, get excited and then dashed again all in the name of 11 men who collectively in that week have just earned somewhere near £1.5m to do what? Make me scowl, frown and rant!! Well not anymore, well for now at least.
Football - You and I are "On a Break". It's over. Until you show me you care, love me back a bit, you can GTF! I need a new obsession, and it's not going to be you!!
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It's the end of the world as we know it.....

2010-06-06T18:10:00.000+01:00

...Actually not quite, I was being melodramtic. It is the end of the children's half term holidays though, which I and Mrs F have been off for also.
Sunday afternoon, and a fine time being had - a few beers / wines, Wii with the kids, dinner on the go. It's all good, as was the week. PSB

Saturday 29th-Mon 31st May
South West to Tewkesbury. Stayed with our good friends The Johnstons. Our adopted 2nd family. Good times were had. Went to Broadway in The Cotswolds whilst there, what a beautiful place. (See Slideshow Below, Thatched Cottages & Mods) An impromptu mod gatehering only aided an already great day and beautiful village. Nice to get away and see friends, new places too. Lovely part of the world.

Tuesday 1st June
Lazy day. Catching up with a weekends missed TV, household chores and just enjoying home. There really is "No Place Like Home" and there certainly is no bed better than your own!!

Wednesday 2nd June
Although on leave I was morally obliged to attend a team building afternoon for the civilian element of the workforce - one of whom I am. Low Ropes Activities. Initially apprehensive as I'd never done anything like this before, and once issued with my compulsary safety helmet I just sort of settled in! Great fun. Ages 19-50+ all joined in, finding the best way across various cable and rope contraptions, climbling, crawling hauling and sometimes awkwardly getting from A-B we all jelled and the day was rounded off with a barbecue, lovingly prepared by members of our own Squadron not involved with being dressed like mountaineers!

Thursday 3rd June
Shopping. It seemed all of us needed to visit Lincoln for something or other. For me it was Bow Tie, Cummerbund & Cufflinks! Ahead of the Summer Ball I had to ensure I was suitably dressed. All goods bought, quick lunch out a la Greggs (Even Chefs have needs) and home mid afternoon.

Friday 4th June
Golf!! Out with a mate for 9 holes at one of Englands longest 9 hole courses. Played OK, lost only 3 balls! (Oops) But had fun. Scorching hot and tiring. Mostly due to the extra time spent in sun looking for aforementioned lost balls!!

Saturday 5th June
Seaside!! The girls brought a friend each and we packed up the car to head to Sutton on Sea for the day. A beautiful quiet seaside resort 1 hour from our door! You arrive there and feel like you are hundreds of miles from home, it's Quiet, pleasant and quite old fashioned I suppose. Only a smattering of shops and not a chav in sight! Result!! Seaside fish and chip lunch followed by a day on the beach. Football, rounders, frisbee digging, the sea...you get the picture!! Not to mention the most breathtaking scenery of the Lincolnshire Wolds en route there and back!

Sunday 6th June (Today)
A biblical storm last night and more rain this morning. The decision made itself! Lie-Ins all round, A day indoors!! Family time, TV, Late lazy breakfasts. What Sunday's were made for!

So after my week off (Which felt like a month - for the right reasons) today feels like "The End Of The World as We Know It" - Well at least the end of the holidays and back to Work, Work, school school and school for the Fletcher 5! Is this it? Is life in the suburbs for a young working family? Is this what the rest of the world does too??????????. Ah well, Not long until 21 July - SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!

It Might Make Me A Geek, But.....

2010-05-03T14:05:00.001+01:00

A few months ago, for Christmas infact Mrs F bought me something I'd been after for a while. A Logitech Squeezebox Duet (Below). I wanted something that could stream music from my computer (In the study) to my 5.1 speaker set up (In the lounge). Nearly all of my music is on my PC, about 31 days worth in fact (According to iTunes). I do have a decent 2.1 speaker set up on my PC, so listening to music in that half of the house is taken care of, it was just to bring the mountain to Mohammed so to speak and have all my music available in the lounge also.

It was only when I got the Squeezebox Duet I discovered something installed on it called Last.fm. What is Last.fm I hear you shout?? Well it is, (From The last.fm website):

Last.fm is a music service that lets you discover new music you like, based on the music you already listen to.

The Last.fm website is filled with tons of information on artists, albums and tracks, more music similar to them, charts and other statistics and more, all built by the Last.fm users who’re keeping track of what they’re listening to with Last.fm. (If you want to join them and get your own profile with your personal charts and stats, read the next question for more information.)

You can read about artists you like, check out their most popular tracks, browse their album and find out what other artists are similar to them; learn about upcoming events, explore interesting genres, listen to music and watch videos.

To get the most out of Last.fm, sign up for a user profile – you can build up your personal user profile, write journal articles about your favourite music, create your own event calendar and invite friends, talk to other users and get together with them in groups about interesting topics.

I set the account up online, and started listening to music I knew, which in turn offered similar artistes for me to listen to. A sort of personalised radio station, based on music I like. Simple.

Not to geeky - up to now.

This week I realised that last.fm could be linked to Spotify - Another music service I've been using for quite a while now. For those who do not know, Spotify is (From the Spotify Website):

Spotify is a new way to listen to music

Any track you like, any time you like. Just search for it in Spotify, then play it. Any artist, any album, any genre - all available instantly. With Spotify, there are no limits to the amount of music you could listen to. Just help yourself to whatever you want, whenever you want it.

Now - This is where it gets geeky: These two are linked by something called "Scrobbling"

Scrobbling a song means that when you listen to it, the name of the song is sent to Last.fm and added to your music profile.

Once you've signed up and downloaded Last.fm, you can scrobble songs you listen to on your Spotify account, computer or iPod automatically. Songs you listen to will also appear on your Last.fm profile page for others to see.

As you have read, The Last.fm account is now linked to:

Spotify - Scrobbling music listened to online to the Last.fm profile.

iTunes - In turn linked to Spotify, importing it's playlists so you can listen to them in Spotify. (In essence, Making your entire music collection available at any Spotify enabled device worldwide!!) and also scrobbling music listened to here into your Last.fm profile.

Windows Media Player - Scrobble music from here to the Last.fm profile also.

Now, As if all of the above is not geeky enough, Twitter now comes into play!! As well as linking music & playlists you are listening to in Spotify direct to Twitter, encouraging others to listen to your chosen tunes, Twitter is linked to Last.fm using Tweekly.fm. What this does is Tweets your most listened to bands and artists, automatically once a week, or on request to your followers. On a similar note Lastfmlovetweet is also set up, so now when I "Love" a tune (A bit like Starring or Liking) it tweets to my followers that I now love that particular song, inserting a link to follow so they can hear it too!

So excited I have been with all of this "social media meets music" activity I have tried explaining it all to those I know, bored the arse off Mrs F who is still none the wiser over it all, so I decided to share it with YOU.

Have a look at my Last.fm Profile HERE
Try out Spotify for yourselves HERE
Buy a Logitech Squeezebox Duet HERE

Now if this works, there should be an Auto tweet to Twitter showing that I have made a new blog post!!

I did say I may be a bit geeky!!

My Life Part 2 - Aged 11-16 - The "Big School Years"

2010-03-09T22:10:00.000Z

So, I've been born, walked, talked, played and lived a little. Picking up where I left of, I'm now 11 years old, and the biggest thing to happen next was "Senior School". The best years of your life. My Arse!! Read on..........

1986
As I said, main memory this year was starting High School / Senior School whatever you want to call it. Being one of the younger ones in my year I'd not long turned 11, but for some reason looking back now I can remember thinking what a man I was!! LOL 11 Years old!! I have one child nearly that age, and another one almost two years older and they are still my babies!!
Starting "Big School" was a real eye opener, going from a primary school with about 200 kids in, I'm now in a school with nearly 1500!! Nobody knew me anymore, I didn't know anyone else - well apart from a few at primary school. Were the rumours true? Were these beings known as "Fifth Formers" really going to "Bogwash" me? (Flushing head down toilet) Did everyone have girlfriends? Did everyone smoke? These were the things I'd heard. Thankfully the "bogwashing" never happened, I've still never tried smoking, and I did not meet my future wife aged 11 in a chemistry lab! Nothing ever really did prepare me for my 5 years at Lincoln Christ's Hospital School but I did live to tell the tale.
No 1 Song on my birthday was George Michael - "A Different Corner"

1987
Aged 12! Last year before becoming a teenager. Really settled in to school now, discovering girls!! They were not as keen to discover me but still good times! Started "Going Out" with a girl called Gina. First Love! The girl I "Went Out" with until I was nearly 16!! (I apostrophise went out because we never actually went anywhere in 4 years!) School was good, doing different stuff now like woodwork, acrylic work and cooking. I'd already decided that I was going to be a chef by this age, and I stuck with it. First thing I ever made at school was Raspberry Buns. Also, I remember attending quite a few 13th Birthday parties this year, It was as if 13 was the new 21! Everyone seemed so old, even only a few months older than me and I tried imagining what it would be like when I got to 13! Wow, if aged 11 was like becoming a man, to what honour would I bestow teenager-dom!! LOL Starting to get out a bit now, town on my own, me and my mate would go to Newark (20 Miles) on the train as it was only a quid return! He was bit of a trainspotter, not a geeky one, it was just that his dad worked on the railway and he was into it I think.

No 1 song on my birthday was Madonna - "La Isla Bonita"

1988
The year I became 13! Remember I said that 13 was the new 21? that becoming a teenager was some big thing?.... I was sorely let down!! It was just another day!!... Well almost! .......I'd entered a spot the difference competition in the Lincolnshire Echo some weeks previous, and on my birthday the letter came... I'D WON!! A 3 day mini break to Ribe in Denmark with DFDS Seaways Unlucky for some 13? Not me!! Great time for nowt eh? Other memories that year were first holiday to Spain with family, that was cool, well Hot but you get my drift!! Too hot when I had to spend a day in the apartment with Prickly Heat Other 1988 memories were Me and a mate spending a lot of time in Eastbourne As I mentioned earlier in my blog that was fun, loved my skateboard, loved the independance in Eastbourne! We had the run of the place!! The whole adventure started on the train, on the way there. Kings Cross first where we saw Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards on the downward escalator which was just too ironic! Calling at Gatwick Airport en route to collect his sis who had been to some far flung place. We had to wait at the Airport for about 6 hours to meet her. Guess What... We had the run of that place too!! At one point we saw this crowd gathering, and being inquisitive and considerably smaller than the mostly drunken Scotsmen that formed it, we got to the front. I saw this guy sat in a Celtic shirt, I told him I was a Bhoy too and asked him what all the fuss was. In a broad Weegy accent he told me "The Hoops Were on their way back" Whaaaat!!! I could not believe it!! We were at Gatwick Airport, by chance, and I was about to see first hand some of the team I'd supported since being a (wee) boy!! Frank McAvennie, Pat Bonner, Mick McCarthy, Tommy Burns & Paul Mcstay to name a few! They came through this door, all together on the way back for a pre season tour of Italy I think. It was their Centenary year.One of the old boys gave me a pen and paper, one of the team gave me a scarf, and I got to meat some of my then heroes! What were the chances!!!! Getting to Eastbourne later that night my hols really started! Me and my mate "Leggie" making our own way in his home town! I loved that time away, I think it matured me, and put me in the right frame of mind to deal with life in general!

No 1 Song on my birthday was S'Express - "Theme From S'Express"

1989
Fourteen. This was to be the year I discovered fishing. One of the lads in the street where I lived (For Now) got me and a mate into it. He seemed to know what he was doing. Talking of "Hook Sizes" and "Breaking Strain" that was enough for me, I now knew 200% more than I did! Growing up a few hundred yards from a river helped too, I'd watch the fishermen and talk to them and learn a bit from them too. I bought my first rod and some tackle from a shop in Mablethorpe with my holiday money, whilst on holiday with my Gran & Grandad in their caravan. When we got back I went to the tackle shop down the road, got a few more bits of tackle, and some bait then me and my mate went fishing. Stamp end locks was our main haunt, catching weeds and eels mainly! We had many a day not catching a thing, some days getting disillusioned, but still having fun. Looking back at that picture you can see the tower block "Shuttleworth House" where I did most of my paper round, which paid for more bait and tackle. That was a long summer. Very early mornings until it went dark, just by the river. I would not dream of letting my kids stay out that long these days! Sign of the times? SOmetimes we'd take a packed lunch, sometimes chips from the nearby chippy, that was the life!

No 1 Song on my birthday was The Bangles - "Eternal Flame"

1990
A new decade. It felt it too. The Eighties really had finished. Everyone wanted to see the back of them Not more so me. After my parents having their house re-possesed the previous year due to Maggie wrecking the country we had to move house. I was starting the new decade miles away from my friends, although I still saw them at school, sharing a bedroom with my brother, in a house VERY like This One and it was the start of a miserable year. A lot of my friends all seemed to grow up real quick this year, drinking booze, stopping out all night and, well.....growing!! I was left behind in so many ways! I still looked about 12, and combined with everything else that had just happened with moving etc, made for a pretty miserable year. I started mucking up at school, parents called in etc, and I did not really fit in any more. I was still doing the things I was doing when I was 12! The only good thing this year was Work Experience in Harvey's Restaurant, Lincoln. (Now the Magna Carta) Reassuring me, even though I was treated like crap, I still wanted to be a chef.

No 1 Song on my Birthday this year was Madonna - "Vogue"

1991
I've said it somewhere before on here, but 1991 was the year my life began. I could not get out of school quick enough after finishing my GCSE's. After a short spell in the kitchens of Harvey's Restaurant I enrolled with the Hotel & Catering Training Company, and took up residence at RAF Swinderby - The then RAF School of Recruit Training. I was there as a civilian, a trainee chef. I lived there too. A block full of civillian caterers was to become my home for the next 3 years almost. Graham, My college tutor drove me up there one evening, I was to meet another trainee chef, David who would show me around etc. I arrived to a cold room with just a bed, sink, and wardrobe. I saw his room with kettle, TV, Hi Fi, all mod cons! I could not wait to do the same with mine!! I dumped my kit off and we went to what would become my new workplace - Lancaster Hall (Junior Ranks' Mess) I remember the meal waiting for me. A chef called Jimmy had saved some chicken curry and rice knowing I was coming. We sat and ate it in a huge deserted Airmans mess, white melamine tables in a dining room swamped in plastic flowers. A dining room in a mess which that night hosted me and David, and yet tomorrow over 1000 people would be eating in it! I can still smell it now. The chef went back to the kitchen as he was "Duty Cook" - employed to work thru the night, preparing suppers and readying food for the next day. A shift still employed now by most Airmans messes in the Air Force! I could hear him clattering about and singing. I swear the radio was playing the same music back then on duty cook shift as it did when I worked those shifts at Waddington in 1999! We ate our tea and I quizzed David on what I'd be doing etc. For something that should have been daunting, - leaving home at 16, new job, strange people, big wide world, I felt strangely at home, and relaxed. My life truely had just begun..............

No 1 Song on my birthday was Cher - "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" but I flatly refuse to link to that! My song of the year had to be Bryan Adams - "Everything I do, I do It For You"

My Life, Part 1 - Aged Birth to 10

2010-02-24T22:33:00.001Z

As I start this blog post, I'm unsure of how it will transpire, but I feel once I get started it will flow.... Lets See. I have include some links for you to click too!! Go on.... You know you want to!!

This is Birth-10 I intend to blog up to this year in upcoming entries!! Enjoy.......

1975 - The Year I was born.
No Memories.
No 1 Song on birthdate was The Bay City Rollers - "Bye Bye Baby"

1976
No Memories, Although went on 1st Holiday. Filey - N.Yorks.
No 1 Song on birthday was Brotherhood Of Man - "Save Your Kisses For Me"

1977
2 Years old. I've seen photos of me with my Dad's canary collection, but do not think I can remember them.
No 1 Song on birthday was Abba - "Knowing Me Knowing You"

1978
The year my younger brother was born. I remember my Gran coming to look after me while my mum was in hospital. She took me to the hospital to see my mum and new brother. I got Cadburys dairy milk all over my hands and the hospital bedding.
No 1 Song on my birthday was The Bee Gees - "Night Fever"

1979
The year I started playschool. Originally in a private house on Monks Road Lincoln. A house one of my friends moved in to about 10 years later! I remember playing with stickle bricks and painting pictures clipped to easels with bulldog clips. Moved to the Methodist church hall later on.
No 1 Song on my birthday was Art Garfunkel - "Bright Eyes"

1980
The Eighties! A new decade, all modern and neon in it's arrival! The year I started school. I remember my first day. Mrs Burns was the teacher, I was sat cross legged on a cold lino tiled floor. I played with Jigsaws. A girl I knew from playschool wet her self. I suspect her lino was warmer than mine after that.
No 1 Song on my birthday was Blondie - "Call Me"

1981
I was six in this year. I remember my teacher, Mrs Howie. I remember my dad building an Airfix model of a concorde and I took it into school. It was confiscated as "Now we were in the 2nd year we should not take toys in"!! I also remember meeting my godparents this year. It was Eurovision night and I spent most of my time trying to figure out who they were and what place they would have in my life.
No 1 Song on my birthday was Bucks Fizz - "Making Your Mind Up"

1982
Aged 7. School Teacher Miss Kirby. Looked a lot like Kate Bush! The Falklands war. I remember a friend of the family joined the Army (Paras). I watched the Six O'Clock news every night expecting to see him! Bizarre. All those miles away and that war meant something to a 7 year old Lincoln lad because he expected to see someone he knew! For what it's worth he came back, alive and well and went on to become A Sgt Major I think. My Grandad took me to RAF Waddington to watch the planes come back and troops arrive. We waved flags and cheered for all of the soldiers and airmen that won the war. Living in Lincolnshire I saw lots of the planes that flew around our county. The roar of the Avro Vulcan as it flew vertical in the sky. THAT Vulcan and THAT war. My Grandad was a bit of a plane spotter. We'd go to airshows, and viewing points and watch the planes for hours.
No 1 Song on my birthday was Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder - "Ebony and Ivory"

1983
Aged 8. School teacher Mr Parker. Deputy Head, stood for NO messing! Drove a Black XR3i A Lot of my memories at this time were of being in Grafton House - The social club that was the home of Lincoln Labour Party. My Dad was leader of Lincoln Labour Party around this time and most Saturday mornings he'd meet up with his cronies and we'd get to play pool, put music on the jukebox, watch TV and the such. Strong music memories came from that jukebox. 2 songs for 10p. Paul Young, Madness, The Jam, Blondie. A Wellington Glass of diluted squash, and occasionaly Lemonade and smoky bacon crisps!! They did toasties too, cooked in a smoky coloured bag type thing. A crazy invention!
No 1 Song on my Birthday was Spandau Ballet - "True"

1984
Aged 9. School teacher was Mrs Hare. I think this was the year I first got into Hand-Held electronic games. "Bank Raid" was the first one. From Father Christmas (Via Tandy!) I would spend hours playing it until I mastered it, reacting to it's every move I was hooked! My favourite toys as a kid were hand held games. Lots of hours spent around the local bowling green as my dad was greenkeeper there. Sometimes helping with the upkeep and often throwing a wood down the meticulously cut grass!
No 1 Song on My birthday was Lionel Richie - "Hello"

1985
Double Figures! Aged 10. In this year, continuing until 1986 when I left Monks Road Primary School My teachers were Mrs Hare, Mr Mand, Mr Milburn & Mr Parnham. Not sure why we had so many teachers. BMX ruled this year! I loved my 2nd hand BMX bike, although desperate for a Raleigh Super Burner or a Diamond Back. Racing through Monks Abbey Park, Jumping over mates off a ramp my Grandad built. Scary stuff!! Watching the bigger lads doing tricks on theirs and failing miserably in an attempt to emulate! Wanted a Sergio Tacchini tracksuit. Never got one.
No 1 Song on my birthday was Phyllis Nelson - "Move Closer"

Just WHAT I am doing on my leave....

2010-02-16T19:55:00.003Z

I feel so flattered when posting to Twitter that so many people have asked what I am up to on my leave this week. Either people are incredibly nosey, or genuinely take an interest in me, my tweetings and my ramblings. - Do not shatter my illusion, I'm sold on the latter ;-)

I elected to work Monday - As a rule it Always happens on a Monday. Monday is drama day at work, there is always something that needs sorting, manning issues, stuff like that. I finished @ 1700 Monday with an empty inbox and a clear desk! Today, Tuesday was my first day off, and after a lie in, and lazy breakfast we delivered home No 2's friend who stayed the night, en route to The Deep.

Complimentary free tickets won in the school raffle made this a cheap day out! We've been before but as it is only an hour and a bit away (And Free!) it was worth a trip out! It kept the kids entertained, and there is something quite mystifying and soothing looking at all the fishes, big and small in a huge sub-marium.

So - That was what was, now....for the rest of the week:

Wednesday

Skip run in the morning. You know all that stuff you pile into the shed, and forget about? Well, tomorrow is the day! It's going!

PM Sees more fun - I'm going out with the "TopCats" - That's Top Caterers to you! A group of eleven of us at work, that keep the other 165 in check! A Midweek managers afternoon out. Historic Lincoln is the order of the day, visiting the Cathedral quarter, encompassing the Cathedral, Castle, Bishops Palace, Roman walls and literally hundreds of years of rich history.... Oh and 11 Pubs ;-) I'm looking forward to learning a lot!

Thursday
Slow lazy morning hopefully! Roast beef dinner for 9 to prepare. We have friends coming to stay, You may feel like you know them... See You're Celtic, United. The Johnston family are coming to stay! Funny word, Family - -These are the guys that are #SoooFamilyButNotRelated it's untrue! Not seen them since New Year, so it will be great to catch up, the kids are all like brothers & sisters, which helps, so us grown ups can chat and drink the night away, leading into....

Friday
I have it all planned don't I? I like planning! Cooked breakfast x 9 should start the day off right, then I will propose another trip around uphill Lincoln- Our friends used to live here you see, and they are just in love with historic Lincoln. I will try and coerce them into eating out, nothing flash, maybe Yo-Yo's or something. We will have 5 kids with us afterall! but it should round the day off a treat! Assuming I'm not barred from one of Wednesdays pubs, I dare say they might get a visit too! Back home for relaxing.

Saturday
The Johnston's here until mid day I would imagine, operation clean-up to commence shortly after. I hate the feeling when friends leave, even with us 5 in the house, it feels so empty when they go :-(

Sunday
Where does the time go!!! I am not planning for Sunday. A day of rest hopefully! Last day off before back to work, school etc etc so mundane taskings to follow! I shall not be so sad as to blog about packed lunches, shoe polishing and timetable dictated bag packing!..... Unless you ask me to!!!

Take a pinch of This, add A dash of that...

2010-01-28T21:25:00.002Z

I start this post on a slight warning - You may have had to have been there, but........

At work Tuesday afternoon and my office looks out directly into the kitchen. It was mid afternoon and the chef that was on vegetables and potatoes that day pushes his passionately prepared ingredients up to the workspace that would become his creative zone for the next couple of hours.

.........Now before I go on, you need to know that kitchens are loud, hustle bustle places, fast and busy environments, and there is always, but always banter. Ohh we love the banter! ...Well these 2 lads have been at each other (in a nice way) all day, tit for tat, friendly jibes, poking fun, you get the picture.........

So, he swooshes his veg trolley into position, finely batonned carrots, equally trimmed florets of broccoli, evenly pared potatoes.... You get the picture. A morning’s work. On the top of the trolley was the "Piece de resistance" - A fine chiffonade of red cabbage, all meticulously sliced by hand, soaking in red wine ready to braise for dinner.

The trolley glides in, the chef moves towards the stove, and then... CRAAASSSHHHHH!! Red cabbage, red wine ALL on the floor. The tin slides off, and it's EVERYWHERE!! Light coloured floor, red cabbage, red wine, WHAT a mess!

Now, this is where chef# 2 comes back on to the scene. Chef #1, distraught, gutted at his finely chopped and lovingly prepared ingredients (Now being scooped into a bin) chuntering and cursing himself and as chef #2 walks past, and in true kitchen tradition,

When a man is down.....

Announces, at the top of his voice in a professional TV narrator guise to rival any foody television sort......

"Take one part red wine, and two parts floor"

As I say, you may have had to have been there.... I was, and I howled! It sums up the kitchen mentality, the "esprit de corps" which gets us through the busiest days and longest shifts, and it's still making me smile now!!

You're Celtic, United

2010-01-25T21:57:00.001Z

This story goes back to Year 2001. I was working at my current place, and as is the norm we have a lot of Airmen pass through, people posted in, posted out. In fact I have lost count of the acquaintances I have met in the last 12 years.

They come, they go, but due to the nature of my work, I stay. That is what I do. Mr Continuity.
Around the time I was a Civilian Chef (2 Promotions ago) and I was working with this real old school, bigoted chef. A dinosaur by modern standards. He'd been in the RAF pretty much all of his life, knew every scam, every trick in the book, but was coming to the end of his 22 years. Finito. A life as a Mr. beckoned, and he was struggling to handle that I think. He'd turned bitter, for sure. He could make a lemon look sweet from 25 yds.
Anyway, this guy tells me that I'm in for a rough ride. There was a new Cpl being posted in. Apparently he was a staunch Scotsman, hated the English, Hated everything about England, and in turn would hate my national pride and George cross tattoo. Oopps. I could do without this, I enjoyed my work, and I did not fancy William Wallace making my life hard!! I am not bigoted or racist in any way I may add, but I am proud of my country, and I would find it hard to hear anyone disrespect that, or purposely antagonise me to the contrary.
The day came. "Davy Johnston" was posted in. Unbeknown to me he'd been told by "Bitter Old Sweat" that there was a Nationalist Englishman in this kitchen, a skinhead jock hating Bulldog that would make his life hell. Davy and I avoided each other’s glance for about two weeks. Him thinking I was some NF thug, me thinking he hated everything about my country! Davy did not need this! Posted down from Scotland, keen to get on. I did not need this either!!
After about 2 weeks of nervous tension, we ended up on shift together, both avoiding the English / Scottish thing, trying to avoid eachother for fear of the others views and supposed attitudes. Soon the conversation turned to football. It did not take long before we both talked passionately about Glasgow Celtic Football Club, (Hail Hail) and then in turn Manchester United. Alas... Common ground. We reminisced about the old days, Frank Mcavennie, Tommy Boyd, The Lisbon Lions, We did not shut up!! United was next, Davy's 2nd team, my equal love along with Celtic. What a click! What a relief to us both. Almost instantly as one, what a shame the last 2 weeks had happened! Not just the football, you know when you findsomeone in your life, a fellow man, a surrogate brother!!
Common ground thru Football, music, interests, family life and much much more. It was an epiphany for us both. This bitter old fcker had had us both pitched against each other from the off. What a shame we'd both been naively led this way! - And how differently it could have ended up!
Davy then headed off on a foreign tour for 4 months, and only when he got back it was like a pair of old slippers. We were like old mates, muckers from 20 yrs back. Our families soon met, and the rest so they say is history. The wives met and clicked instantly, our kids are like brothers and sisters to each other.
He's amongst the bestest mates I've ever had. We've holidayed together, seen countless football matches together, parties, meals, and each others houses for days at a time. Eat, Slept & Lived together! Davy and his family ARE FAMILY.

To Quote Rod Stewart (Fellow Celtic Passionista)

"You're Celtic United, but baby I've decided you're the best team I've ever seen

And there have been many affairs, many times I felt to leave

But I bite my lip and turn around, 'cause you're the warmest thing I ever found"

Davy Johnston - Despite the best efforts of a bitter old man who for what ever twisted reasons decided to do what he did......

It did not work.

Ageless & Timeless.

May everyone everywhere experience great friends and kindred spirits!!

This time next year, We'll be millionaires....

2010-01-24T13:30:00.002Z

Nice lie in today, 0915 can’t knock it! The house still has a faint aroma of last nights curry about it, Two courses, plus poppadoms, pickles & bread all delivered for £14.95, Amazing value, and I’m not easily impressed when it comes to food but it was outstanding from start to finish.

The rest of the day? a roast dinner beckons for us. Mrs F has fetched the papers, The Sunday Times for me, I love it, It honestly takes me until Wednesday to finish reading it, but that’s part of it’s appeal. Come Wednesday I will be beating myself up though, because as I read the “Business” section I remind myself that I’m not one of the people in there that they feature for making millions in their first year of business! :-(

Is it normal to think like that? I firmly beleive that one day (Del & Rodney?) “I will be a millionaire” I certainly have the drive, the brains too I think, but I’m lacking the balls! Making that leap, dipping my toe in to see if one of my ideas will work out and make me rich. Note to next big thing: You’re mine, I want you!!
Until then my employers (I feel) are getting more than value for money from me, and the way I do business. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, I really do but I still believe I have something big to offer this country (And the world?) Lookout, because One day world, I will be a millionaire…..
Or Will I?

Trying A Different Blog

2010-01-24T13:06:00.000Z

For those of you who have followed me in the past, My first few posts on here are from my old Tumblr Blog. I liked Tumblr, but it probably was not the premium blog format for my inane ramblings.

Please follow! And Post comments.

Looking forward to your feedback

Rob

The Day HRH Prince Charles MET ME

2010-01-24T13:00:00.000Z

As it says, HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales met me once. January 2007 I was asked to meet him as part of my job, A Head Chef for the Ministry of Defence. I was involved in the visit from an early stage, preparing, planning, rehearsing for His Royal Highness’s arrival, studying protocol and being reminded how to behave. The day of the visit came, and we were in situe quite early on in the day. We rehearsed our greetings, had a practice or three and then the moment came. Prince Charles entered our tent, a mock field kitchen inside a hangar.

We were actually cooking, we had bread in the oven, and some sort of Chinese food cooking in the large field kitchen bratt pan, both for the aromas and for the interest it created, but also we were ready to feed His Royal Highness should he decide he wanted to eat. He met some of our other staff before making his way to me; I was the last man in our tent before he moved on.

I bowed from the neck, greeting him exactly as we had been briefed, and he offered me his hand so I duly accepted. We were informed not to offer our hands, but if The Prince offered his we may shake it. Not too firmly, not for too long. We shook hands and I realised that I had been shaking it for considerably longer than any of my nervous colleagues did! We were under strict instructions to keep it brief, short handshake, short chat, and let him move along. ….

…Well what do you think!!! One chance to meet the Future King of Great Britain, I wanted him to remember who Rob Fletcher was!!

Looooong handshake (not intentional, honest!) And we both seemed instantly relaxed. He asked me how long I’d been a chef, all the usual questions about life etc, then just as he was about to move on, he came back to me.

HRH: “So, do you ever have any food left over?”

Me: Attempting to impress - “Not often Sir, we plan very carefully and we tend to know in advance how many people we’re feeding”

HRH: “But you must have something, sometimes?”

Me: Well sometimes Sir, yes we do have some food left ” (By this stage I have no idea where this is going, the entourage are looking on and extremely interested in our now “epic by comparison” conversation

HRH: “CHICKENS!” he exclaimed!

Me: “Chickens Sir?”

HRH: “Yes, Chickens, marvellous creatures, eat everything” By this stage it feels like an interview on Parky or something, were now chatting freely and are like two old pals

Me: “I’m not sure my boss would allow me to keep chickens at the back of the mess Sir?”

HRH: “I feed mine allsorts, they eat anything you know, you should get some”!

I’ve now been TOLD by the next King of our fine and pleasant land that I should get some chickens! What should I do?

Me: “Well I’ll tell you what Sir, you square it with my Boss, and I promise I’ll keep those chickens well fed!”

HRH: Laughing out loud by now “I’ll see that he knows, it was nice meeting you”

Me: “And you too sir, Thank You”

Of course I never did get the chickens, and my boss never was ordered to get the mess some chickens either. The only chickens we’d be getting were delivered at -18 degrees centigrade with the giblets missing!

What I did get, through a little will, determination and probably some brass-neck was about 4 times longer with “Charlie” than anyone else, (Can I call him that? We are buddies now after all?) And some superb photographs from the units photographers to give to my Gran.

I had asked the photographers (Whom I knew beforehand) to get me some good photos, especially to make my Gran proud. They exclaimed that they do not normally get time, as HRH does not spend long enough with each individual.

“You leave that bit to me” I told them…

Like I say. On that January in 2007 HRH Prince Charles, The Prince Of Wales MET ROB FLETCHER, not the other way around!! And My Gran got her Photos!!

God Bless you Sir ;-)

BMX, Pork Pie Beetroot & Eastbourne...

2009-11-05T13:32:00.000Z

BMX, Pork Pie Beetroot & Eastbourne...

Thinking back, years ago. Things I miss:

Grans for tea every Saturday. 1978-1989. Dickie Davies world of sport on the Tele, Big Daddy wrestling. Juliet Bravo followed by the Two Ronnies after tea. Pork Pie, boiled eggs, Beetroot spilt on the clean on tablecloth.Then watching The generation Game.

Church jumble sales. 1980-1987 Helping me Gran on the stalls. Helping to set up meaning first dibs on the “Good Stuff” I always got a New record player or tape player.

Playing with toy cars in the street. It was simple, but I wanted for nothing more. 1982.

Caravan holidays with Gran & Grandad. 1981-1989 Mablethorpe. Cold swimming pools, Warm caravan and the smell of bacon cooking in the morning. Travel Scrabble.

Nintendo Game & Watch, other hand held electronic games. Hours upon Hours was spent with them 1984-1989. I mastered each game. One by one I conquered them, being absorbed into their gameplay and seemingly never ending levels. Shark Attack, Bank Raid, Octopus, Ball, and the daddy of them all Dual Screen Donkey Kong.

1983 Spectrum 48k. Horace goes skiing and Frogger

1985 Dragon 32k. Donkey Kong

1986 Tatung Einstein. Chucky Egg and Mummy (?)

1985-1988 BMX Polished chrome. Peugeot Frame, SR Stem, Mushroom Grips, Diamond Back Seat Post, Yellow Mag wheels, Aero Brakes. Loved it. My grandad built a ramp and we would “Jump” people in the park. Long run up, over the ramp set on a small rise and my record was about 15 sets of legs. Literally flying. I was fearless!! Not now! Proper fairy lol.

1984-1989 Youth Club. In the Methodist church hall. A musical education. Duran Duran, Wham, Thompson Twins, Pet Shop Boys. All set the scene for my education into snooker, pool, bigger kids and the pecking order of life.

1988-1990 Skateboards. Hand decorated deck, Fly Tape grip tape. “Skeleton” ribs, Variflex Trucks and Slimeball Wheels. More speed than tricks. Too clumsy by that age :-(

1988-1993 Fishing. Every waking hour spent fishing the River Witham with my mates. Determined to catch the biggest of fishes. In reality spending ages getting unhooked from the weedy bottom. Still loved it. Looong summers they were fishing.

1988-1990 Paper Round. Used to rush round, stopping only to look out from the 14th floor of the tower block down onto the river where I longed to be, fishing. Paid on a Friday, straight to the tackle shop to spend it. Not fished for years now :-(

1988 Eastbourne. 2 Weeks with a mate at his grandads. Away from home, my own money, no parents and the run of the town. Skateboarding, girls, tall stories. No one knew us. We were who we wanted to be. A coming of age. Wet Wet Wet was the soundtrack to that summer.

1991. Leaving school. And that was where my life began…….

What Will The Week Bring?

2009-10-05T13:50:00.000+01:00

It’s Monday, 0620 and I’m sat wondering what I will be up to this week at work. My diary for the week so far has about three things in it for the entire week; Last week I could not see the paper for the numerous scrawls reminding me just how busy we were. Over 1000 extra people to feed, food dispersed to other locations, meetings, buffets, coffee for meetings, the list was endless, the week relentless.
Tuesday was my favourite. 500 people in for lunch for my colleagues to deal with, and I was tasked with organising a small team to feed just 25. How can that be right? Well, my small group of lucky diners consisted of HRH Prince Edward - The Earl of Wessex and various entourage plus guests. A simple, relaxed fork lunch, and a chance for HRH to chat with some selected personnel about their roles within the establishment. After chatting to the guests, he chatted to me and my group about our role, and the food we created that day. Prince Edward was extremely polite and approachable, and even during a pressured schedule made time to make you feel welcome and valued. A true gentleman.

By Thursday the hype of the Royal visitor had been all but forgotten as we were still feeding almost double the amount of people that we are used to. We are chefs, it’s what we do. There is a real “Let’s get on with it” attitude about my team, whether tasked with feeding 1300 people in one breakfast, or preparing food for the heir to the throne it is done with a vigor and enthusiasm that makes you realise why you became a chef.

A rare occurrence also happened Thursday - I took my lunch break! Not sat at the desk eating, I took time out to go and look around the biggest aeroplane I’ve ever stood in. It was a RAF C-17 Globemaster, a huge thing capable of fitting other aircraft into the back for transportation. A real eye opener. Beats sitting at the desk flicking grated cheese that’s fallen from my sandwich off of my keyboard!

So as I type, you can imagine why I’m thinking what will the week bring? I love my work for it’s diversity, and the challenges it brings, but I also love the fact that as I’m sat here at home I can’t even remember what the heck I have to do this week; Until I go in and see my diary. I am quite lucky to have the ability to switch off from work when I leave - Work is for work - Home is for the family. Rest assured in an hours time I will know exactly what I have to do and this settee and laptop will be gone and forgotten about. Well until 1730 at least!! I wonder what’s for tea?? ;-)

The Godfather - Part II

2009-09-21T13:58:00.000+01:00

Well, christening over and back to work today! Yesterday was great, we all met in the local pub and that is where my first prophecy came true; Rooney banged one in!! Cue 2 United fans, raucous celebrations, only drowned out by the dismay and protestations of the 10+ City fans in our immediate company!! Suits, shirts, ties, posh frocks & a christening gown could not disguise the fact that we were all (for the 1st 30 mins of the game) not quite concentrating on the christening!!

What seemed like only a few minutes passed before the red duo of the pub were silenced by City equalising :-( !! It was inevitable, as was the ceiling light in the pub coming apart as a result of the father of our (Still prospective) Goddaughter jumped jubilantly fist first towards it!! His rowdy shouts upsetting his own daughter too!! Tut Tut, Maybe she’s a red too?? LOL!!

Footy at 1-1 we left for the church, where the vicar gave us our instructions in a style that can only be described as similar to the commentator of the Martell Grand National. Man alive, did he have somewhere else to be? or maybe he just did not have any idea what a full stop or comma looked like? Anyway, he got the job done. I had a quid each way on “Lords Prayer” while everyone else backed “Holy Water” for the win.

And they’re off…. You are the parents you are the godparents do you promise you will take this baby teach her the ways of the lord renounce the devil teach her right from wrong so help me god we will our father who art in.. amen praise be to god amen and taking this candle to the final furlong….. It’s all over.

Man that was quick! But joyous and special too. That was it, my time had come. “I AM THE GODFATHER” They queued up, asking for their favours…

1. Can you stand there while I get a picture of you all?

2. Can you move left a bit

3. Can you show me the way to the reception as we’re not from round here?

It’s not what I had in mind, but I duly obliged.

Up to now I’d still not ordered anyones execution so off to the reception we went, where the father of our goddaughter had prepared our food (He’s also a chef) Lasagne & Dressed salad. Mmmm Mmmm 1st class!! Everyone enjoyed it, and we sat chatting in pleasant company whilst watching the rest of the game.

By this time it was 2-2 then the two reds shouted jubilant again!! YES 3-2 come on United, this is in the bag?? Bellamy 3-3. Damn you city!! That goal was to prove their undoing… Over joyous celebrations led to the ref adding another minute onto the already long 4 mins of injury time. A United substitution also adding on a few precious seconds. BANG Owen scores!!!!! 4-3 United after 95 minutes!! Our cheers were drowned out with the moans and groans from les bleus!! Oh dear it was for them, but who’d have thought the once pride of Merseyside would have such an important job to play in dividing these two teams from Manchester!!
Back to our Goddaughters house for Apres-Reception. At last, the car was parked, the whistle and flute thrown into the wardrobe until the next wedding/christening/funeral and wetting the babies head commenced!!

A few pleasant drinks and chewing the cud followed, and back home to get the kids ready for school next day.

What a great day. Thanks to L & G for choosing us. We will not let you down. And if anyone crosses the wire, they will be waking up with a horses head beside them.

The Godfather (Part I)

2009-09-20T13:56:00.001+01:00

The Godfather (Part I)

Today I will be fulfilling one of the greatest honours bestowed upon me.

My wife and I have been asked to be godparents to our friends little girl. If I’m honest I’m still not entirely sure what it entails, but I do know we will have an obligation to look out for her, protect her and nurture her as she grows older.

I think that this is such an honour, because although we have 3 children, that was our decision. Our friends have actually chosen us, which I’m sure you will agree means alot. We will be heading off to the church in 40 mins or so, and although it is a while since I’ve been to church I doubt they have a 52” plasma on which to watch the United - City game (KO 1330!) Bad planning as I am a united fan?… The parents of our (prospective) goddaughter ARE CITY FANS!! I’m sure the scores will filter through by some medium of technolgy or other!! After the church, it’s off to the local gym. (No, Not for post christening pilates) but to their function suite, then back to their house afterwards to wet the baby’s head properly, and toast to her future and also (Hopefully) a United thrashing the bitter blues!!

As you see by the title, this is The Godfather (Part I) and I will be posting The Godfather (Part II) upon our return. That’s unless I get arrested in church for inciting a derby day riot when Wayne Rooney sticks in a goal!!